Les Schwab Invitational: Class of 2019 Top Player Evaluations

The 23rd annual Les Schwab Invitational just completed and many of the state's top players competed in the event. Here's a look at how the top ten ranked Class of 2019 players that played in the tournament performed.

The Demos have come to really count on Tsohonis scoring the basketball so far this season and that was the case throughout the LSI. The Washington signee started off the tournament taking solid shots and hitting a good percentage including his patented one-handed flip shots, but fell into a bit of gunner mode in the final two games (much like the rest of the team). But one area where Tsohonis really contributed was on the boards as he ended up leading the team in rebounding, grabbing a season high 14 in the 3rd place game against Gonzaga Prep.

The 6-foot Vermont signee may have had his signature performance with his tournament-record 47 points in the consolation championship. But what's notable about that

The 23rd annual Les Schwab Invitational just completed and many of the state's top players competed in the event. Here's a look at how the top ten ranked Class of 2019 players that played in the tournament performed.
#1 - Marcus Tsohonis (2019 Jefferson) - Stats: 20.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, .435 fg%, .440 3pt%, .632 ft%
The Demos have come to really count on Tsohonis scoring the basketball so far this season and that was the case throughout the LSI. The Washington signee started off the tournament taking solid shots and hitting a good percentage including his patented one-handed flip shots, but fell into a bit of gunner mode in the final two games (much like the rest of the team). But one area where Tsohonis really contributed was on the boards as he ended up leading the team in rebounding, grabbing a season high 14 in the 3rd place game against Gonzaga Prep.
#2 - Aaron Deloney (2019 Grant) - Stats: 33.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, .457 fg%, .303 3pt%, .848 ft%.
The 6-foot Vermont signee may have had his signature performance with his tournament-record 47 points in the consolation championship. But what's notable about that game is how he scored those points. Deloney didn't just bomb away from the outside, he took the ball strong to the hole and either converted acrobatic layups or draw fouls for free throw attempts. And that was what he did all-tournament long. He's still going to be a serious threat to fill it up from three-point range, but his ability to take it to the hole is going to have to be respected as well. It wouldn't be surprising to see him lead the state in scoring this year.
#3 - Jaden Nielsen-Skinner (2019 South Salem) - Stats: 19.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 6.0 apg, .446 fg%, .368 3pt%, .700 ft%
"Skinny" put together a solid tournament. The Portland State signee really played his best in the very first half of the first game against Jefferson as he lit it up and forced the Demos to adjust their plans at halftime. The top pure point guard in the state (at any class), Nielsen-Skinner led the tournament in assists and did so with clear floor vision and crisp passing.
#6 - Keylin Vance (2019 Jefferson) - Stats: 17.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.3 apg, .532 fg%, .280 3pt%, .846 ft%
The tournament was a tale of two halves for Vance - a first two games where he was completely on fire and then a second two where he fell into some bad old habits. The good: the first two games where he was completely on fire and was able to display the ability and creativity as perhaps the most explosive scorer in the state, living up to head coach Pat Strickland's nickname for him - "The Microwave". He wasn't just gunning threes either but creating off the dribble and finishing acrobatically around the basket. The bad: the second two games where he reverted to gunning threes and ended up seeing more time on the bench than on the floor.
#7 - Josh Angle (2019 Lake Oswego) - Stats: 15.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.5 apg, .339 fg%, .219 3pt%, .778 ft%
Angle got in his points - he led the Lakers in scoring - but it took a lot of shots to get those points. The senior's shooting percentages were way below his normal numbers and much of it was trying to force the action because Lake Oswego was struggling with scoring. Angle is a much better shooter than his percentages indicate and Head coach Marshall Cho noted that he will be trying to change things up to get Angle more open shots as the season progresses. But one area where Angle has really made some improvements with his game is his rebounding. He averaged 9.0 rpg in the LSI but is actually averaging double figures in rebounding for the season.
#8 - Stevie Schlabach (2019 Tigard) - Stats: 17.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.3 apg, .509 fg%, .083 3pt%, .929 ft%
Schlabach had a solid overall tournament as shown by his numbers and shooting percentages, although he surprisingly not only did not shoot well from three-point range - the fact was he really didn't take many from long range. But the senior was rock solid from mid-range and around the basket and near perfect from the line. He definitely started off slow - his eight points in Tigard's opening game was quite the surprise - but Schlabach was his usual high-scoring self by the end of the event.
#9 - Ty Rankin (2019 Grant) - Stats: 12.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, .302 fg%, .353 3pt%, .733 ft%
The senior guard will be counted on as the #2 option after Deloney this season and statistically he was that for Grant at the LSI. His dismal shooting numbers are skewed by one 1-for-16 performance but many of his shots were contested and from missed shots off offensive boards - which Rankin had many. There's no question the undersized Generals will be counting on Rankin to help out with rebounding so it was good to see him really contribute in that area.
#10 - Jalen Brown (2019 Jefferson) - Stats: 5.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.3 apg, .208 fg%, .200 3pt%, 1.000 ft%
While he did score in double figures against Sierra Canyon, the tournament was largely forgettable for Brown as he never really could get it going from the outside and it really seemed like he was pressing to make things happen. Some positives were that he hit all of his free throws and in the comeback against Gonzaga Prep in the third place game, he still felt confident enough to hit a key three to tie the game late. Jefferson head coach Pat Strickland tries to stick with his seniors so look for the talented Brown to get chances to bounce back in PIL action.
#12 - Oreon Courtney (2019 West Linn) - Stats: 12.0 ppg, 9.25 rpg, 1.8 apg, .541 fg%, .000 3pt%, .400 ft%
There's no question the highlight of the tournament for Courtney had to be capturing the Slam Dunk championship, which follows up the slam dunk title he won at the Iolani Classic in Hawaii. His actual play on the basketball floor was what we have come to expect from the senior - hustle baskets around the rim, hard battles on the boards even against bigger players, and intensity on the defensive end. Courtney is still working on developing his perimeter game and while his overall free throw shooting was dismal, a lot of it had to do with the 2-for-11 forgettable performance against Jefferson.
#14 - Brock Henry (2019 Southridge) - Stats: 24.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.3 apg, .415 fg%, .410 3pt%, .800 ft%
Southridge has been struggling ever since losing senior Zach Galvin for the season and Henry has really felt the impact. While his overall numbers were high - his 24 ppg was one of the top marks in the tournament - Henry's percentages were pretty low as he was forced to carry the load a little too much. Henry shot it fairly well from three-point range but fell a little in love with the shot too much as evidenced by his low percentage of free throw attempts. Nevertheless, Henry remains one of the top scorers in the state as Southridge continues to try and figure things out going into Metro League play.

Oregon All Access Pass

Subscribe to Prep Hoops Oregon to get access to all premium articles and prospect rankings for as little as $2 per week!